In Brief

HAPHousing's Foreclosure Prevention Center has received a two-year, $493,000 grant as part of $4 million from the state's HomeCorps grant program to help address the foreclosure crisis.

The funding will provide free and confidential individual counseling for homeowners at risk of or experiencing foreclosure as well as basic consumer financial education throughout the four counties of Western Massachusetts.

The Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority is one of four partners of the Western Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Center that will receive the grant funding.

Counseling services are available to anyone who is at risk of foreclosure, pursuing a loan modification, and or who has received a loan modification and is still struggling to make payments.

The funding comes from a nationwide settlement involving the country's five largest mortgage servicers and their connection with unlawful foreclosures and loan servicing.

The Home Corps program is run by state Attorney General Martha Coakley's office.

Information: (413) 233-1622, (800) 332-9667 ext. 1622; or visit HAPHousing's main office at 322 Main St. in Springfield between 10 a.m. and noon on Tuesdays, or 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.
Berkshires:
Home Builders Assn.
sets education event

The Home Builders & Remodeler's Associations of both Western Mass.

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and Central Mass. will hold a two-day educational summit on Nov. 29-30 that will allow contractors to take an array of programs, all approved by the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards, to fulfill their continuing education requirements for their license.

The MBBRS recently passed legislation requiring mandated continuing education for licensed building contractors and remodelers. A CSL licensed contractor must acquire a certain number of continuing education hours each two-year renewal period based upon the type of license they hold.

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